FEBRUARY WRAP

28 Feb FEBRUARY WRAP

Corporate functions, boat cruises, basketball, more football, a taste of rugby league; February was a month that had any sports fan satisfied!

February began with the second Victory in Business Luncheon for the season, with well over one thousand guests filling Palladium at Crown to witness top class entertainment and experience one of Melbourne Victory’s business networking platforms. The Melbourne Victory Chairman’s Club Boat Cruise was another successful event for the Max Events team and the football club with sixty of Melbourne Victory’s guests filling the MV Pearl to sail through Docklands and Port Phillip Bay to see the city from a different angle.
Melbourne Victory also ventured through the month of February with two home A-League games, and the beginning of their AFC Asians Champion League campaign on home soil at AAMI Park. With yet another challenging game against Brisbane Roar, Victory were able to continue to lift throughout the month of February, sealing a 1-1 draw against Ulsan Hyundai and setting a whole new pace in the original rivalry against Adelaide United. In front of a very eager crowd, Victory took to the pitch to prove a point moving into the final rounds of the fixture. The first half saw Melbourne Victory take a strong lead into the second half with the crowd favourite, Leroy George, sealing one of the finest goals the A-League has seen this season.
There was no one better to start the scoring in the second half than the key striker, Besart Berisha, putting even more immense pressure onto Adelaide United. With United down to ten men, Victory were able to comfortably finish the month of February with a 3-0 win.

AGL were also part of the original rivalry in February, with the energy company being the Match Day Sponsor. Pre-game saw the Power Up Zone on Gosche’s Paddock take full flight with bubble soccer, team photos and free jelly beans all being crowd favourites for the Victory Village fans. Bubble soccer also took to the main pitch of AAMI Park at half time, with a two on two game to seal a team signed ball each for the winning team. Amongst all the bumps, bouncing and goals, the entertaining game saw two young gentlemen prevail as the winners. Be sure to come and visit the final AGL activation on March 31, for your last chance to go into the draw to win a 2018 team signed and framed jersey!

Melbourne Storm began their year with the World Club Challenge where they hosted English Super League Premiers Leeds Rhinos on home soil at AAMI Park. With a minor Premiership and Premiership trophy already sealed in Melbourne in 2017, The Storm were set on adding the World Cup Challenge trophy to the cabinet. With Nathanael, Harrison Craig and Monica Oriel all performing pre-game and setting the tone for what was to be an exciting night for rugby league in Melbourne, the Storm were off to an exciting start, leading 18-4 at half-time. The Storms confidence and dominance continued throughout the second half for them to leave Leeds Rhinos scoreless and taking the score to 38-4 by the final whistle. With the purple pride filling AAMI Park, Melbourne Storm were crowned the 2018 World Club Champions!

From rugby, we moved back to the game of football for the weekend, with the best in Australian women’s football taking to the pitch in Sydney for the tenth Westfield W-League Grand Final. The day was highlighted by acknowledging what the league has achieved in its ten years of developing elite women’s football in Australia. Sydney FC were to host the reigning champions, Melbourne City. In a hard-fought match, Melbourne City claimed their third Westfield W-League Grand Final win in three years.

Max Events ended the month with four events in four days. This included working alongside TEG Live and Basketball Australia to bring together two FIBA World Cup Qualifiers; TLA and their Cameron Smith and Johnathan Thurston Testimonial and Melbourne Victory for their game against Adelaide United.

The Boomers hosted Philippines and Chinese Taipei over two days at Margaret Court Arena, here in Melbourne. The Philippines had a gigantic following, with the deafening crowd being very supportive of the away side throughout the entire match. The exciting atmosphere filled the entire stadium, allowing the Philippines to put pressure on the Boomers, with a 19 all point game at quarter time. With the chance to regroup in the quarter break, the Boomers were able to break play and take the lead going into the second half by 5 points. The second half saw the strength, stamina and dominance the Boomers are known for, pushing the lead to 16 points in an 85-68 win by the final whistle.
The Boomers were able to have a few days rest before taking on Chinese Taipei, in a much more settled match for the green and gold. The home side were able to make a stance early in the Sunday afternoon match, dominating the first half to lead at the break 47-25. Chinese Taipei were able to win the third quarter, before the Boomers finished strongly in the last to take home two from two home wins and finished 88-68 against Chinese Taipei.

Between the two Australian Boomers game, Max Events had the opportunity to help create a celebration of two Rugby League Legends alongside TLA. With a star-studded line up to hit the turf of Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, the night was dedicated to the talents of Cameron Smith and Jonathan Thurston. The weather was no deterrent for the fans of Rugby League, the game left everyone on their seats until the final siren. The first half was well fought, with the Cowboys clenching the lead going into the half-time break, 8-4. The second half saw the game go into overdrive with Melbourne Storm taking the lead off the Cowboys with only five minutes to go, holding 14-12 against the home side. With eighteen seconds left, the Cowboys in possession and pushing through Storms defence, Johnathan Thurston was able to assist the try that sealed the win for the Cowboys taking it to a 16-14 in what was deemed to have been a trial match for the 2018 NRL season it felt like so much more for the fans and clubs as two legends of the game were recognised for their contribution to Rugby League

The Max Events team rolls into March with more sporting event favourite and highlights to bring to all the fans. Keep an eye out for our team!